Forensic men join hunt for missing trekker

Bhanu P Lohumi

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 27

Members of the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) today joined search operations to locate 35-year-old US national Justin Alexander Shelter who has gone missing while trekking in the Parbati valley in Kullu district since August 22.

Three forensic science experts Vivek and C Patial from the SFSL Junga and Rajesh Kumar from Mandi joined the search operations and went into the interiors of the valley (Thakur Kund) via helicopter where Justin was last seen, said Director, SFSL, Arun Sharma.

He said the team would collect evidence like clothes and other clues to know his whereabouts besides exploring the possibilities of falling from a hillock, animal attack or any other eventuality.

SP, Kullu, Padam Chand said, “We along with the SFSL team visited Thakur Kund where the muffler, cigarette lighter and other things of the missing foreigner were found. The team reportedly spent six hours at the site.

Police sources said Justin was mentally fine and the possibility of the foreigner falling or pushed into the Parbati river was also being probed. The Parbati is a fast-flowing turbulent river and if Justin had slipped into the river, the possibility of recovering of the body was remote.

Justin’s friend had reported on October 3 that he had gone for trekking in the Parbati valley since August 22 and there was no contact with him since then, following which the police nabbed two persons Anil (porter) and Naga Baba, with whom Justin had spend time, but still there was no clue.

A massive hunt was launched to search the missing foreigner and relatives of Justin were also assured all help by the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.